PR: ANA's Baltimore Show is Historic!

American Numismatic Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 8, 2003

CONTACT: Stephen Bobbitt

ANA'S BALTIMORE SHOW IS HISTORIC!

The American Numismatic Association (ANA) World's Fair of Money(R)
2003 in Baltimore was one for the history books.
The show attracted more than 13,000 people to the Baltimore
Convention Center, July 30-August 3, and opened with the announcement
that all in attendance would have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
see all five known specimens of the 1913 Liberty Head nickels on display
for the first time in more than 80 years. The coins were produced 90
years ago under mysterious circumstances when the United States Mint was
changing from the Liberty Head to the Buffalo design.
ANA Executive Director Christopher Cipoletti made the announcement
at the show's opening ceremonies on Wednesday, July 30. Four of the five
coins were scheduled to be exhibited at the show. The fifth specimen
disappeared 41 years ago when its owner, George O. Walton, died in
automobile accident.
California sports agent Dwight Manley, Legend Numismatics (of
Lincroft, New Jersey), the Smithsonian Institution and the ANA Money
Museum each agreed to loan their respective 1913 Liberty Head nickels
for the exhibit. However, hours before the convention opened, relatives
of the late George Walton brought their piece forward for authentication.
Told in the 1960s that their rarity was one of many altered-date
coins produced over the years, Walton's relatives kept the piece
closeted for four decades. They brought it out of hiding when a
nationwide search for the missing genuine specimen was begun in late May
by Bowers and Merena Galleries, official auctioneer for the ANA show.
The firm offered a minimum of $1 million for the coin's return and sale.
Two lengthy and exhausting examinations of the Walton coin began
Tuesday morning, July 29, and continued late into the night. At 12:15
a.m. Wednesday, after comparing the Walton piece with the other four
specimens, the fifth 1913 Liberty Head was declared genuine by
authenticators Paul Montgomery and Mark Borckhardt of Bowers and Merena
Galleries, and experts John Dannreuther, Jeff Garrett, David Hall and
Fred Weinberg.
Word of the historic exhibit spread quickly, with stories carried
by the Associated Press news wire service, NBC's Today Show, CBS radio,
National Public Radio's All Things Considered, as well as Baltimore and
Washington, D.C., area newspapers, television and radio stations. (An
extensive media advertising and publicity campaign for the convention
was orchestrated by the ANA Public Relations Department and Minkus &
Pearlman of Northbrook, Illinois.)
Long lines of convention attendees waited patiently every day of
the show to see the display produced by ANA Museum Curator Lawrence Lee.
The exhibit case included a list of owners, a vintage leather case that
once housed all five of the coins and other material related to these
numismatic rarities. A special exhibit case was provided by Diamond
International Galleries of Timonium, Maryland, which also mounted a $3
million display of paintings and sculptures depicting Disney's famous
cartoon character Scrooge McDuck in money-related themes. The artwork,
brochures about the Liberty Head nickel exhibit, posters and a
limited-issue reprint of a 1940s Donald Duck comic book were provided by
Diamond International and its sister company, Gemstone Publishing.
Nearly 400 individuals joined or renewed their membership at the
convention, and the ANA sold more than 1,000 of its "World Mints
Passports," which offered attendees the opportunity to collect coins
from 15 countries represented at the show.
Dealers were active throughout the convention, as people bought and
sold coins, paper money, tokens and medals. ANA Library and Museum
Services staffs were busy with book signings, reference help and
numismatic valuations.
The United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) displayed
its $1 Billion Exhibit, which includes examples of $100,000 bills. Also
exhibited for the first time in Baltimore were sheets of the new, more
colorful $20 bills that will begin circulating this fall. BEP Director
Thomas Ferguson spoke about the new bills at one of six news conferences
at the show, where representatives from the mints of France, Japan,
Singapore, United Kingdom and the Athens 2004 Olympic Games Coin Program
talked about their new products. The British Royal Mint, in conjunction
with New Zealand Post and New Line Cinema, launched The Lord of the
Rings coin program at the show.
Henrietta Holsman Fore, director of the U.S. Mint, conducted an
open forum to gather collector and dealer input, and spent hours signing
souvenir cards for visitors. The recently organized Citizens Coinage
Advisory Committee held an open meeting, where members discussed the
designs of upcoming State quarters and the new Jefferson nickel.
The official auction by Bowers and Merena Galleries of Mandeville,
Louisiana, and Lyn Knight Currency Auctions of Overland Park, Kansas,
realized nearly $12.8 million. Among the nearly 5,300 lots offered, was
a Class III 1804 Bust dollar consigned by ANA Governor-elect Don Kagin
that sold for $1, 207,500 to Beverly Hills dealer Kevin Lipton. It was
the first time one of these rarities was auctioned at an ANA convention.
At the Awards and Installation Banquet on Saturday, August 2,
Charles J. Ricard, Charles N. Ricard and the Lighthouse Family were
presented the Farran Zerbe Memorial Award for Distinguished Service, the
Association's highest honor; the Albert L. Baber Family received the
ANA's Lifetime Achievement Award; Ron Landis of the Gallery Mint Museum
received the Numismatic Art Award for Excellence in Medallic Sculpture;
the Dallas Coin Club was recognized for 75 years of club membership; and
the Corpus Christi (Texas) Coin Club, Inland (Washington) Empire Coin
Club and Long Island (New York) Coin Club celebrated 50 years of ANA
membership.
At the conclusion of the banquet, the newly elected ANA Board of
Governors for the 2003-05 term was installed: President Gary E. Lewis;
Vice President William H. Horton Jr.; and Governors M. Remy Bourne,
Arthur M. Fitts III, Alan Herbert, Donald H. Kagin, Will Rossman, Barry
Stuppler and John W. Wilson.
Twenty-three sponsors and nearly 150 patrons contributed nearly
$75,000 to support the ANA convention. The two Title Sponsors--Delaware
Valley Rare Coin and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC)--each donated
$10,000. Contributions of $350 to $8,500 came from 21 Secondary
Sponsors: National Gold Exchange; Heritage Rare Coin Galleries;
Coinland.com; Spectrum Numismatics; Superior Galleries; American
Numismatic Rarities; U.S. Coins, Inc.; Catherine Bullowa-Moore; J.J.
Teaparty; Anthony Terranova, Inc.; Main Line Coin & Stamp, Inc.; Lee
Minshull Rare Coins, Inc.; American Heritage Minting, Inc.; Austrian
Mint; Kevin Lipton Rare Coins; Marsh Affinity Group; Numismatic
Emporium; Scott Travers Rare Coin Galleries; Texas Numismatic
Investments, Inc.; Fred Weinberg & Co., Inc.; and M&M World Travel
Service.
The ANA Education Department presented more than 50 hours of free
programming during the show. Hundreds of young collectors, age 6-18,
participated in the popular "Treasure Trivia Game," with each player
receiving a "goodie bag" containing various numismatic collectibles,
including a Buffalo nickel, Indian Head cent, a State quarter in an NGC
holder and a copy of A Guide Book of United States Coins (known as the
"Red Book"). Winner of the grand prize in the Treasure Trivia drawing,
a Spanish silver pillar dollar, was Thomas Feder of Alhambra,
California. John Horenkic of Lanham, Maryland, was the winner of a
1/10th-ounce American Eagle gold bullion coin given away in a drawing
among ANA members living in the area who returned a post card sent to
them before the show.
On Saturday, August 3, National Gold Exchange sponsored the Young
Numismatists Awards Breakfast, with Coinland.com sponsoring the
subsequent YN auction. More than 50 Boy and Girl Scouts participated in
a collecting badge clinic co-sponsored by American Heritage Minting and
Numismatic Emporium.
More than 50 people took advantage of ANA's "Coin Collecting
Basics" program that introduces beginners to the various aspects of coin
collecting, from the State quarters and paper money to ancient and world
coins.
At the opening ceremonies on Wednesday, July 30, convention General
Chairman Tom Palmer received the Good Fellowship Award. The show was
co-hosted by the Maryland State Numismatic Association, Baltimore Coin
Club and Token and Medal Society of Maryland.
At the Membership Reception on Friday, August 1, Edward C.
Rochette, ANA executive director emeritus, was honored as the 2003
Numismatist of the Year. At the banquet the next night, Rochette also
received the Burnett Anderson Award for Excellence in Numismatic Writing.
The ANA presented 60 competitive exhibit awards to individuals of
all ages and experience levels who mounted 94 displays. The Charles H.
Wolfe Sr. Award for YN Best-in-Show Exhibit was presented to Max Spiegel
for his exhibit "The Old West." Recognized at the annual banquet as the
"World Champion Numismatic Exhibitor" and winner of the Howland Wood
Memorial Award for Best-in-Show Exhibit was Lenny Vaccaro for "A
Selection of U.S. Mint Medals from the War of 1812, Engraved by Moritz
Fuerst." The Rodger E. Hershey Memorial People's Choice Exhibit Award,
selected by those attending the show, was given to John Whitney for
"Collecting United States Federal Currency."